Verdict
The GameSir G8 Plus brings to top quality gaming controls to a broad reach of twist . It ’s not particularly thickset , and the app needs work , but it ’s arguably the most forward-looking all - round portable gimmick controller available .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Earlier this class we reviewed the GameSir G8 Galileo , which moderately much ready a new standard for roving phone game controllers with its Pro - even ascendency . The GameSir G8 Plus is essentially the same machine , but it swap out USB - coke connectivity for Bluetooth .
This means that it require power , unlike theGameSir G8 Galileo , and there are one or two other nonaged drawback . Conversely , with wireless connectivity in free rein , the G8 Plus becomes more than just a nomadic sound game controller and becomes a portable machine controller .
Besides Android and iOS , it ’s design to work seamlessly with the Nintendo Switch , replace the Joy - Cons with a fully fleshed out set of controls . It can also be used as a generic Bluetooth or wired secret plan controller for your microcomputer or anything else that accepts such things .
At £ 64 , GameSir has cut the price whilst appearing to offer a whole lot more tractableness . Is it really the portable gamer ’s everything - controller that it is likely ?
Design
Like the GameSir G8 Galileo before it , the GameSir G8 Plus takes the form of a simple expanding mechanics flanked by two halves of a generic but well - appointed console table controller .
With no USB - C fireplug to centre and pin your equipment , the first concern is over the stableness of the G8 Plus . There ’s really no need to worry , as the wide bridge , robust rubberised grips , and just - so pressure from the expanding section serve to clamp any equipment in place .
I tested the restrainer with aniPhone 15 Pro , a Redmagic 9S Pro , and aNintendo Switch – three gadget with very dissimilar size and shape – and the G8 Plus remained securely lock away on in each affair .
You purportedly remove the rubber backing on the bridge circuit section if your phone ’s tv camera provides too chunky , but this proved rather too fiddly for my liking . It ’s a shame GameSir did n’t implement some sort of magnetised organisation , like the one that removes the font plates of the control sections .
The latter feature article has been implemented so that you’re able to swap out the controls and analog stick . GameSir include three extra parallel spliff of varying flesh , but the idea is that you may switch them out due to wear as much as find .
With the G8 Plus also being Switch - friendly , it also means that you could swap around the X , Y , A and B buttons , as they default on to the classic Xbox / personal computer configuration . There ’s a remapping option in the free GameSir app to seal the deal .
Just like the G8 Galileo and very much unlike theBackBone One , this is n’t the kind of restrainer you throw in your air pocket . It ’s a chunky lump of solidly - build up plastic that will require a adequate - sized back compartment . At 314 g , it ’s more than 60 g heavier than its USB - C brother , thanks to the need for a 1000mAh assault and battery ( made up of two 500mAh cells ) and Bluetooth constituent .
The ergonomics and ascendancy layout will be very familiar to Xbox gamers , and GameSir has even found space for a pair of mappable clitoris on the rear of the control – though the physical process for doing this is a footling fiddly .
With no strong-arm link up , you do n’t get the turn over - through 3.5 mm headphone jack of the G8 Galileo , so you ’ll need to tot up another Bluetooth twist to the equation if you desire right audio . That ’s perhaps the biggest grounds to go with the G8 Galileo if you ’re a thoroughgoing mobile gamer , alongside the latter ’s chew and wreak directness .
There is a USB - coke port in the same location , alongside a mate push button , but that ’s purely for charge the controller itself . Unlike the G8 Galileo , you ca n’t accuse or power your phone whilst it ’s inserted in the clamp , though of course the Switch ’s bottom - mount USB - C port makes such a thing viable . With Bluetooth connectivity , you may also take your equipment out of the controller ’s clamp and continue using it .
Performance and Gaming experience
I say it in the GameSir G8 Galileo inspection , and I ’ll take over it here : GameSir make the best pure mobile gambling controls on the market . It ’s not just the full - sized nature and dimension of the control condition sections , but also the sheer caliber .
It ’s every inch a catch for a high lineament console controller . Indeed , in the case of the G8 Plus ’s Hall Effect parallel stick , it ’s even better than the default Xbox and PS5 provision .
To cut a farseeing story brusque , Hall Effect analogue sticks are n’t susceptible to the peg drift problem that all pack in controllers eventually hurt from . Stick drift is that annoying thing that happen with a well - used restrainer when an input is register even when you ’re not touch the control condition . It ’s not an number here .
The stick are well fine-tune , take first mortal games like Warzone Mobile ( on Android ) and Void Bastards ( on Switch ) play attractively , while I was capable to guide Mario around in Super Mario Galaxy on the Switch with way more deftness than on the Joy - Cons .
On top of the controller there are well - sprung and super - grippy analogue induction buttons ( also Hall Effect ) , which are great with racing game and shooters .
The D - pad , meanwhile , is a brilliantly clicky and solidly planted model with a nice level of locomotion , making it cracking for fast - paced 2D fare like Dead Cells ( beak your political platform ) .
Talking of which , the process of switching between platforms is n’t as intuitive as it could be . You ’ll need to nurse the short circle release below the D - launch area in conjunction with one of the buttons for each , but I was incessantly having to moderate back in the vexatious fold - out manual ( though you could also find it online ) to see which was which . Could n’t you have given us a simple physical transposition , GameSir ?
Once you do plug in , switch between multiple platforms work well , and it ’ll even wake your Switch when in the appropriate mode .
In addition to generic Bluetooth for iOS , Android and PC ( signify by a blue twinkle ) ; Android - specific for interoperation with the GameSir app ( yellow light ) ; and Nintendo Switch ( crimson light ) ; there ’s a quaternary manner for those mobile games that do n’t technically digest controllers . This one lets you map the speck inputs to ascendancy , though you ’ll require to navigate GameSir ’s sub - optimal software program to do so .
GameSir has also admit its own tactual motor , so you wo n’t have to miss out on that immersive factor . It ca n’t hope to match the nuanced wonder of the PS5 ’s DualSense restrainer , but it allow skilful solid shaking nonetheless .
Software
The GameSir G8 Plus is less reliant on the free GameSir app than the Galileo . Indeed , if you ’re preponderantly buying it as a Switch control , you wo n’t ask it at all .
With that said , it ’s on roving platforms where you may access most of the controller ’s features , and that imply tackling that GameSir app .
Thankfully , it ’s an advance on my experience with the G8 Galileo . I carry off to get the iOS app realise it this time , at least , though this is still an Android - first gimmick . Features like cloud backup configuration wo n’t work on modernistic builds of iOS , for example .
Even back on Android , though , this is n’t the tightest UI around . It lack the style and intuitiveness of BackBone ’s console - aping UI , with jumble of symbols that are still not perfectly configured for pilotage with the control itself .
As before , there ’s a Discover Thomas Nelson Page that serves as a middling ugly storefront for recommend games , guiding you through an ugly single game listing before sending you back to the Google manoeuvre depot to download them . Or , in the case of Fortnite , sending you to a non - existent Google Play Store listing where you ca n’t download it .
There were no representative of random Mandarin text this meter , which is procession , but I did experience a consistent bug in which a a “ Failed to Get Configuration ” substance appear every time I come in the Trigger options subdivision , and an unfitness to hit the Quick Trigger Switch toggles that would turn these analog manipulate into digital ones .
All in all , there ’s still a lot of work that needs to be done to make a UI that ’s worthy of GameSir ’s impeccable hardware .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
The G8 Plus offers top quality controls for your Nintendo Switch , Android , and iOS equipment .
If staying succinct is important , stay put with your Switch Joy - Cons and buy a BackBone One for your sound . The G8 Plus is BIG .
Final Thoughts
The GameSir G8 Plus offers much the same experience as the G8 Galileo , with outstanding console - tone ( and above ) command and replaceable Hall Effect analogue stick .
It broaden out the scope of that parcel thanks to Bluetooth connectivity , which expands this outstanding mobile gaming controller into an outstanding Nintendo Switch controller too .
You ’ll pay for this added functionality in a couple of small but potentially meaningful way . It ’s even bulkier than the G8 Galileo , while the 3.5 millimeter headphone jack and verbatim earpiece charging is out . GameSir ’s software , meanwhile , still needs a arrant revamp if it ’s to meet the BackBone One ’s frictionless appeal .
It ’s another specializer accessory , and anyone count for the very best band of controls possible for their portable gadget need await no further .
Trusted Score
How we test
We try out all our devices thoroughly over an extended period of time . We practice industry - standard tests to compare features properly . We ’ll always separate you what we find out . We never , ever , accept money to critique a production .
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FAQs
Yes , the open clamp system and flexible USB - C connecter should see to it compatibility with all but the chunkiest of sound cases .
All Android and iOS phones , as well as the the Nintendo Switch and even PC .
There ’s a USB - C port on the bottom of the controller , but it wo n’t charge your phone or Switch .
